Locally owned since 1867
Wednesday, September 23, 2020
County considers transportation option
Runners hit their stride in Humboldt
By TREVOR HOAG The Iola Register
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National issues influence Kansas Senate race
iolaregister.com
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Supreme Court forges ahead PAGE A3
Thrive Allen County CEO Lisse Regehr told Allen County Commissioners that opportunities still exist for local businesses and nonprofits to apply for COVID-19 relief SPARK/CARES Act funds. More than $135,000 exists to serve small businesses and $160,000 to serve nonprofits within the county. “We want as many people as possible to apply for these funds,” said Regehr. “That’s what they’re here for.” The window for this opportunity closes at noon Monday, however, so interested parties should act quickly and contact Thrive Allen County with any questions.
Thrive Allen County director of development Jessica Thompson talks with commissioners about funding a new transportation program. REGISTER/TREVOR HOAG Jessica Thompson, Thrive director of development, also spoke with commissioners about the possibility of moving forward on a new county-wide transportation sys-
Marching into a new era By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
New band teacher Brandi Holt has a message for her current and future students that is even more appropriate in the COVID-19 era: “Nothing is too difficult. It’s just unfaNEW miliar.” That princiTEACHERS pal is guiding Holt through this new job and these new times, too. “When you’re learning something new, it can come across as really challenging, but it’s just that you haven’t done it enough. If you approach a new skill with that mindset, your success is limitless.” Holt, who teaches grades six through 12 at both Iola High and Middle schools, chose to come to Iola because of its rich history, especially when it comes to music. The Iola Municipal Band dates to 1871 and is one of the oldest continually performing city bands in the country. She also was impressed by the Iola Symphony Orchestra See BAND | Page A3
tem. Thompson noted that the cost of the program for the county — which would involve new vehicles that take residents of any age to almost
anywhere — would run about $52,000 in its initial year, and then drop to between $20,000 and $30,000 in following years. Commissioners seemed interested, but Bill King said that moving the program forward would depend on “how lean our budget is,” as he was concerned about the county making the $52,000 grant match. It was a worry shared by commissioner Bruce Symes as well, who mentioned concerns about raising the mill levy, replacing vehicles and other costly items. He said he was “not by any means ruling out [the possibility of a transportation program, but said] there are
‘Unfathomable’: US death toll from virus hits 200,000 By CARLA K. JOHNSON The Associated Press
Brandi Holt is the new band teacher for Iola Middle and High schools. She chose to come to Iola because of its history of support for the arts, especially music. The Iola Municipal Band dates to 1871, making it one of the oldest continually performing city bands in the nation. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS
See COUNTY | Page A6
The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus topped 200,000 Tuesday, by far the highest in the world, hitting the once-unimaginable threshold six weeks before an election that is certain to be a referendum in part on President Donald Trump’s handling of the crisis. “It is completely unfathomable that we’ve reached this point,” said Jennifer Nuzzo, a Johns Hopkins University public health researcher, eight months after the scourge first reached the world’s richest nation, with its state-of-the-art laboratories, top-flight scientists and stockpiles of medical supplies. The number of dead is equivalent to a 9/11 attack every day for 67 days. It is roughly equal to the population of Salt Lake City or Huntsville, Alabama. And it is still climbing. Deaths are running at close to 770 a day on average, and a widely cited model from the University of Washington predicts the U.S. toll will
U.S. cases, recoveries, deaths As of 11 a.m. ET, Sept 22
6,872,925+ Total confirmed cases
2,615,974 Total recovered
200,252+ Deaths
Source: Johns Hopkins CSSE Graphic: Staff, TNS
double to 400,000 by the end of the year as schools and colleges reopen and cold weather sets in. A vaccine is unlikely to become widely available until 2021. “The idea of 200,000 deaths is really very sobering, in some respects stunning,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious-disease expert, said on CNN. The bleak milestone was reported by Johns Hopkins, See DEATHS | Page A5
Mnuchin, Powell say Congress needs to pass more COVID-19 relief By JIM SAKSA CQ-Roll Call
WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and representatives from both parties agreed on at least one point at a hearing Tuesday: The economy needs more relief from Congress to sustain the recovery from the coronavirus. Despite that broad consensus, Congress, paralyzed by partisanship six weeks before the election, might not act. Mnuchin, who has led re-
lief bill negotiations for Republicans alongside White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, said at a House Financial Services Committee hearing that he supported a targeted package focused on schools and the most affected parts of the economy. “It should be focused on kids and jobs, and areas of the economy that are still hardhit — particularly areas such as the travel business and restaurants,” Mnuchin said. “I think there’s broad bipartisan support for extending the (Paycheck Protection Program) to businesses that had
revenue drops for a second check.” Mnuchin had previously expressed support for proposals that would allow businesses that suffered significant revenue drops from COVID-19 to apply for a second round of the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program at terms even more favorable than the original PPP’s forgivable loans. Mnuchin also reiterated the administration’s support for another $1,200 payment to most taxpayers. While the employment rate has improved from the sud-
den cratering in the spring, Powell noted that the jobs market hasn’t nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels and wouldn’t get there soon without more help from Congress. “We still have 11 million
people out of the 22 million who were laid off in March and April,” Powell said. “That’s more people than just during the global financial crisis, as I’m sure you know. There’s a lot of work to do See ECONOMY | Page A5
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